"No More Excuses on Education", shout 1000 children
as new Global School Report shows Education for All
remains a distant dream

Seven and a half years after 185 governments met in Dakar to commit to Education for All by 2015, a new Global School Report ranks 178 governments on their education performances since 2000 a nd shows that their progress has been so slow that the Education for All goals will not be realised by 2115, let alone by 2015.

On 12th December, 1000 children from Senegal , India , Colombia and Liberia , and long-term global education activists converged on world leaders and ministers as they arrived at the Education for All High Level Group opening ceremony in Dakar.

Inside this ceremony three of the Global Campaign for Education children from Senegal , Colombia and India presented their personal testimonies of a struggle to get to school to the officials and VIPs.

"Poor countries are being let down by the failure of rich countries to deliver on their promises of finances, made back in 2000. It would cost the equivalent of just a few days G8 military expenditure to give every girl and boy in Africa the chance to go to school" says Gorgui Sow, Global Campaign for Education Board Member from Senegal.

According to the GCE Global School Report 2008, of the 22 OECD countries ranked according to 5 criteria, none of the G8 countries score enough points to be included within the top 3 while the USA remains at a dismal number 20.

David Joyce, Chair of the Irish Coalition for the Global Campaign for Education says that Ireland remains in 7th place, and the report praises its commitment to quality education, the 0.7% target, the Fast Track Initiative for Education for All and coordination with other donors. The Government White Paper on Irish Aid recognises education as the main way in which marginalised children and adults can lift themselves out of poverty, and Ireland has a real chance to lead the way towards a global commitment for quality education for all.

The report shows that the most vulnerable pay the price for lack of investment and policies to provide free education for all. In Africa only 10 per cent of children who are disabled go to school.

"We desperately need to end the global education crisis" says Kailash Satyarthi, President of the Global Campaign for Education. "Close to 1 billion people have never had access to education and 1 in 4 women lack basic literacy skills. And yet all of this can change. We know the world can afford it and that a combination of political will and resources can make education for everyone possible. Yet, due to governments current complacency, it will not be achieved within our childrens lifetime. Its time for governments to respond to the demands of children and stop with their excuses".

The above is the official press release of the Irish Coalition for the Global Campaign for Education. It is composed of ActionAid Ireland, ASTI, Concern ,ICTU,INTO, National Youth Council of Ireland, Oxfam Ireland, Sightsavers International, SUAS Educational Development,TUI and Union of Secondary Students.